Bethel names new soccer coaches

With just a couple of weeks before players report to practice, Bethel College hired Victor Garcia-Bebek as its new men’s soccer coach and Alex Hagan as the new women’s soccer coach.

Garcia-Bebek succeeds Mario Felix, who resigned July 19 after one season with the Threshers. Hagan succeeds Anthony Turini, who resigned after five seasons.

Garcia-Bebek coached at Newman as assistant men’s coach from 2002 to 2009 and head women’s coach from 2012 to 2015. He also served as head women’s coach at Friends from 2010 to 2011.

He was 14-20-2 at Friends, 10-11-1 in KCAC play, reaching the KCAC post-season tournament once. He was 25-35-5 at Newman, 10-22-3 in the Heartland Conference, reaching the conference post-season tournament in 2013, the team’s first post-season berth since moving to NCAA Division II play.

He founded and served as executive director of the Wichita club FC Barcelona KS from 2006 to 2010.

Garcia-Bebek also owns VGB Sports Management and Consulting LLC, where he works with club teams and advises international students who seek to play soccer soccer in the US.

Garcia-Bebek is from Peru, where he played school soccer and semi-pro soccer.

He played college soccer at Newton, winning a conference title in 2001, as well as a NAIA Region IV runner-up spot. He holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of business administration at Newman.

Garcia-Bebek inherits a team that finished 4-13 last season, 3-8 in KCAC play.

"We are very pleased to get someone with Victor's experience to lead our men's soccer program," Bethel athletic director Tony Hoops said. "Victor's enthusiasm for the game, alongside his great organization skills, lead me to believe he is going to do great things with this program.

Typically when hiring this late in the summer, you struggle to find a veteran coach, so to be able to hire someone with Victor's qualifications is very exciting for our department and the college."

Hagen is a from North Texas and is a 2016 Bethel graduate in health and physical education with a minor in sports management with a coaching certificate.

Hagen was a four-year starter for Bethel, serving as team captain for three years. He led the team in goals scored in each of his four years. He scored 18 goals with two assists while playing for the Threshers.

He then served as men’s assistant in 2015 and 2016.

Hagen coaches the U17 and U19 club teams ASAL FC and KFP United. He took his teams to the Dana Cup in Denmark and the Norway Cup.

Hagan inherits a team that finished 4-13, 1-10 in KCAC play.

"Alex is a young man whom I feel has a very bright future within the coaching ranks," Hoops said. "His commitment and loyalty to Bethel both as a player and now as a coach is something I truly appreciate and value. The energy and passion he will bring to our women's program will be tremendous."

"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to coach the Bethel College women's soccer team," Hagan said. "I'm ready to bring a fresh and exciting new look into the women's program.

"I believe that we can be successful for years to come, with a young team full of potential."

Bethel hosts Allen County Community College Aug. 19 and Hesston College Aug. 23 in pre-season friendlies before traveling Aug. 26 to Saint Gregory’s in Shawnee, Okla., for the season openers.